Portable grain-elevator.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

J. E. CAM-P.

PORTABLE GRAIN ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8 1905.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. CAMP, OF WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CAMP BROS. & (10., OF META- MORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE GRAIN-ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed April 8, 1905. Serial No. 254,998.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn E. CAMP, citizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Grain-Elevators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and-use the same.

This invention ertains to improvements in portable grain e evators and has for one of its objects to provide means by which to antomatically slacken the conveyer and elevator drag chains as the elevator is raised or lowered and also at the time the conveyer is folded upon the elevator even while the mechanism is in operation.

An object also is to provide an automatic chain slackening mechanism having yielding means in connection therewith to keep a yielding tension on said chains.

A further object is to provide a portable elevator with a conveyer in connection therewith and one continuous length of conveyer chain to run through both and to furnish means for automatically tightening or loosening the chain when the elevator is lowered or raised respectively and for keeping a yield ing tension on said chains.

Another object of my invention is to provide a peculiar form of hopper for the receiving end of the elevator usually termed the conveyer or drag for holding back the corn to be elevated so that it willnot overload theelevator.

A further object is to provide an adjustable chute for the conveyor or drag.

In the appended drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of an elevator and its conveyer or drag showing a continuous conveyer chain and my automatic compensating mechanism for said chain. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end section of the conveyer or drag viewed from its inner end and showing the compensating mechanism and also the hopper and chute. Fig. l is a perspective view of a modified form of hopper device and the chute in connection with the drag. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of one side of the conveyer showing a sliding block which forms a bearing for the shaft over whose sprocket wheels the chains of the conveyer pass. w

The letter A represents the elevator, but a portion of which is shown, being pivotally mounted upon a wheeled carrying-frame B by means of a member O on said frame and a casting D on. said elevator, said member and casting being suitably pivoted together but not illustrated, since this is well understood havin been described in a former application iiled by me on 'the 3rd day of March, 1905, such application bearing the Serial Number 248,353.

E indicates the short conveyer or drag common to portable elevators, which is pivotally attached to said elevator by the arms F F which are secured at one end to the conveyer and loosely carried on the studs G G on said elevator, either, being cast with the member D or screwed thereinto. The conveyer is thus carried at its inner end pivotal manner, its outer end being,s.1 ported by means of a suitable leg H or other device.

At the outer end of the drag is a shaft J for carrying the usual sprocket wheels one of which is. indicated'in Fig. 1 by the letter K over which runs the sprocket chains L, these also running under sprocket wheels M and N the former being within the elevator and the latter beneath the same, all of which has been described in my former application referred to, the chains as before intimated being in one full stretch running through both elevator and drag.

O is a horizontal shaft receiving powerfrom any desired source and which carries a gear wheel P with which meshes a similar gear Q carried by a shaft R which extends to the top of the elevator to impart motion to a shaft for driving said chains. This how ever, is not shown since it has also been fully described in the former application mentioned.

The shaft J heretofore mentioned is carried at each end in a sliding bearing S of the form shown in Fig. 5 and adapted to move horizontally in a slot T in a casting U secured to the outer end of the drag at either side.

In Fig. 1 is a lever V carried at the forward end of one of the castings U, on a rock-shaft 7. The upper end of the latter has a slotted opening 2, Fig. 3, through which extends the end of a rod' 3 provided with screw threads and a wing nut 4 and between the nut and the lever is inserted a spring 5. The opposite end of the rod 3 has pivotal connection with a stud. or pin 6 on the casting D said pin being placed well behind and above the point will be seen that a raising movement of the elevator will tighten the chain and shift the rod 3 toward the rear. The chain will thus draw the shaft J forward. The free extrernity of the arm 8 has pivoted thereto an arm 9 loosely carried by the said shaft J and a corresponding arm W connects the arm V and said shaft in like manner. By this means the shaft J can be moved the same distance at both ends so that both the chains will be correspondingly effected. Now, as the elevator is lowered the rod 3 is pulled in the direction of its length and by means of the spring 5 the lever V is pulled toward the said elevator, the-lower extremity of said lever being moved in the opposite direction thereby pushing the shaft J toward the outer end of the drag thus increasing the distance between the wheels K and those at the head of the elevator, which, however, are not shown. The spring 5 provides a yielding tension at all times so that any undue strain upon the chains is provided for. It is evident that as the drag is pivoted to the elevator in the manner sh own in the drawings a raising movement of the elevator must effect the position of the said drag and in consequence some compensating means must be provided for the chain and this means may be either manipulated by hand or be automatic. The former means has been shown and in my former application and the latter is herein shown and most desired. It is true, of course, that the bars F could be pivoted at the connection of the elevator with the platform but evenin that case a compensating means is desirable. When the elevator forms a straight line with the conveyer or drag, as when both he flat upon the ground, the stud 6 and the rod 3 are substantially in line with the pivot at G; this being stated to more clearly define the relative position of the p arts. The conveyer can be folded over upon the elevator when transporting the implement from place to place so that the compensating means described will act in the same way as when changing the position of the elevator itself. As shown in Fig. 2 the conveyer or drag is partially closed by means of members a a at each side shown in cross section in Fig. 3 and in conjunction with these is an end member I) all of which may be secured in place or hinged so that, they can be raised for reaching the interior of the drag. In employing these members the ear corn dumped upon the drag can only enter said drag as fast as the conveyer can carry it away. By having a full opening the conveyer is overloaded or given more than the flights can hold. It will be seen that by reducing the opening the corn can be heaped upon the hopper thus made and allowed to feed itself to the flights beneath. In Fig. 4 is a modified form in which a single board 0 is hinged at one end to a cross strip d and supported at the other end by any good means such for instance as the strip 6 whose ends rest upon the top edges of the drag. A back-board f in either form prevents the corn falling over the side of the drag, while a chute 9 serves to contain a large portion of the corn. The said chute is of the usual form having at each end an ear h which incloses a rod j each end of which is secured'to the side of the drag, said rod setting out from the latter to permit the said ears to freely slide out of contact with the drag. Any means of sup orting the outer free end of the chute may e used and by the means shown and described said chute may be moved along the drag to place it in the proper position behind the wagon to be unloaded- In backing up to the drag it is often impossible to properly meet the chute and in order to make the unloading easy with a minimum of work the chute is adjustable in the manner described.

In constructing my improved mechanism it is to be understood that it is not the intention to confine myself to the particular construction and arrangement of the parts as various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, an elevator of two pivotally connected sections, a single drag for running through both sections, means for carrying the drag, and means connected to one .of the sections and having yielding relation witht he drag carrying means of the other section for automatically maintaining a substantially uniform tension of the drag in any position of said sections relatively.

2. A device of the class described, comprising pivotally connected elevator sections, a drag for the elevator and means connecting the drag carrying mechanism of one section with the other section for automatically keeping a yielding substantially uniform tension on said drag in any position of the sections relatively.

3. A device of the character described, comprising two pivotally connected elevator sections, a drag therein and means pivoted on one of the sections and having connection with the drag carrying mechanism of the other section and operated automatically when and as either section is changed in position relative to its neighbor, for maintaining a'substantially uniform tension on said drag.

4. A device of the character described comprising elevator sections pivoted with relation to one another, a drag therein, members within the sections at substantially the pivots thereof beneath which the upper stretch of the drag runs for holding it in operative position upon the bottom of the elevator, means beneath the elevator and the said pivot point for the under stretch of the drag, and means connected at one end to one of the sections and at the other to the drag carrying mechanism of the other section, and operated by movement of either section for automatically taking up or loosening the drag for the purposes described.

5. In a device of the character described, an elevator of two pivotally connected sec tions, a shaft and its wheels located at each end of the elevator, a drag carried by the shafts, means connected to one of the sections and indirectly connected to the drag-moving shaft of the other section for automatically and positively shifting said shaft in one direction to ta ie up the slack in the drag, said shiftable shaft being free to voluntarily shift in the opposite direction to permit the drag to slaclten between its extremities substantially as set forth and for the purposes described.

6. In a device of the character described, an elevator of two pivotally connected sections, one of them being normally raised when at work, a drag for the elevator, and positively operated means connected to one of the sections and having indirect connection with the drag-carrying mechanism of the other section for automatically and positively increasing the distance between the extreme ends of the drag to stretch the same and remove the slack created therein due to a movement of one of the sections in a given direction, said means permitting the drag to retract when and as the elevator section is moved in the other direction.

7. In a device of the character set forth, an elevator, a conveyer having pivotal relation therewith, a wheel-carrying shaft at the outer end of the conveyer, a wheel-carrying shaft at the outer end of the elevator, the shaft on the conveyer being shiftable longitudinally of the said conveyer, a drag carried on and driven by the-wheel carrying shafts, the elevator and conveyer adapted to raise and lower with relation to one another, and mechanism'in connection with the shiftable shaft of the conveyer and with the body of the elevator for automatically and positively shifting the said shaft in a direction away from the elevator when the latter is lowered, the said shaft being free to shift toward the elevator by the pull of the drag thereon, in-

, dependent of the mechanism, when the elevator is raised for the purposes described.

8. An elevator and a conveyer having pivoted relation, a single drag running through both said elevator and conveyer, and means connected to the elevator and maintaining a yielding pressure upon the drag-carrying means of the conveyer for automatically shifting said carrying means to stretch the drag or for permitting voluntary shifting thereof and the retraction of the drag when the elevator and conveyer are moved relatively.

9. In a portable elevator, the elevating member, a conveyer in conjunction therewith, a drag running through both the elevator and the conveyer, and compensating means connecting the elevator with the drag carrying mechanism in the conveyor for automatically and positively extending the --drag for permitting retraction of said drag by the lowering and raising movement of the elevator respectively.

10. In a portable grain elevator, the elevating member, a conveyor in conjunction therewith and pivotally carried adjacent thereto, a drag running through both the said elevator and conveyer, wheels for carrying said drag, and automatic compensating means between the elevator and the wheels of the conveyer for shifting said wheels when the position of the elevator and conveyer are changed relatively to take up the chain.

11. In a portable grain elevator, the elevating member, a conveyer pivoted thereon, a drag running through both the elevator and conveyer for receiving and elevating the grain, wheels for carrying the drag, and means positively connected to the elevator and indirectly to the said wheels of the/conveyer for automatically moving the latter away from the elevator as the latter is lowered for the purposes described.

12. In a portable grain elevator, a pivotally connected elevator and conveyer, a single drag extending and running through both the said elevator and the conveyer, sprocket wheels in the outer end of the conveyer for carrying the drag, said. wheels and their shaft being adjustable longitudinally of the conveyor, and means connecting the elevator with the wheels of the conveyor for automatically extending or permitting the retraction of the chain by the lowering or raising of the elevator respectively.

13. In a device of the class described, an elevator, a conveyer, a drag running through both for moving grain, shafts for the carrying-wheels of the drag, means having connection with one of the shafts for shifting it and a member on the elevator having connection with said means and independent of the drag member, for positively shifting the shaft in one direction or permitting it to shift automatically by the retracting action of the drag when the elevator and conveyor are moved relatively.

14. In a device of the class described, an elevator and conveyer, a drag of one continuous length for running through both the members, and a device connected to the elevator above and forward of the pivot thereof and indirectly connected to the drag carrying mechanism of the conveyer and adapted for automatically decreasing or' increasing the distance between the extreme ends of the drag when and as the relative angularityof the members vary for providing a substantially uniform tension for the drag in any of its positions.

15. In a device of the class described, a pivotally connected elevator and conveyer, a drag extending through both, means at the outer end of the elevator, and means at the outer end of the conveyer for carrying the drag, the drag-carrying-means on the conveyer being adjustable, means attached at oneend to the elevator and yieldingly associated at the other with the adjustable dragcarrying-means described, the movements of the conveyer or elevator imparting a shifting movement to the said adjustable drag-carrying-means, in the manner described when and as the said elevator and conveyer are moved relatively.

16. In a device of the class described an elevator section, a support therefor on which it is pivoted, a second elevator section pivoted to the first, a drag adapted for running through both sections, a transverse shaft'at one end of one of the sections and adjustable on said section to tighten or loosen the drag member carried thereon, wheels on the shaft for carrying the drag, a rock-shaft forward of the adjustable shaft, a lever secured to each end thereof and depending below the same, connections between the levers and the adjustable shaft, a rod connected at one end to the elevator above the pivotal support thereof, its other end having a support in one of the levers above its pivot on the rock-shaft, a spring on the extremity of the rod to bear against the lever, and an adjustable member on the rod for placing the spring under tension.

17. In a portable grain elevator, an elevating member, a conveyer in connection therewith, a single drag adapted for running through both the elevator and conveyer, a shaft and its wheels at the outer end of the conveyer for carrying the drag, a rod pivoted to the elevator, a lever pivoted on the conveyer, the said rod having yielding engagement with such lever for the purposes named, and connection between the said lever and the shaft of the sprocket wheels substantially as set forth.

18. In a portable grain elevator, an elevating member, a conveyer in connection therewith, a single drag for the elevator and the conveyer, sprocket wheels at the outer end of the said conveyer for carrying the drag, a

shaft for carrying the said wheels, the same capable of horizontal shifting movement to ward or away from the elevator, a rock-shaft carried on the conveyer, a lever secured to one end of the said rock-shaft and extending above and below the same, a depending lever at the other end of the rock-shaft, arms for connecting the ends of the levers with the ends of the shiftable shaft, a rod having connection with the elevator and carried in the upper end of the first named lever, a spring on the end of the rod'adjacent to and contacting with the lever, and adjusting means for placing tension on said spring for the purposes set forth.

19. In a device of the character described, an elevator, a conveyer having pivotal relation one with the other, a shaft and wheels therefor at the remote ends of the elevator and conveyer, a drag carried by the same, one of the shafts and its wheels being shiftable to increase or shorten the distance between it and its companion for tightening or loosening the drag carried thereon, pivoted levers having operative connection with said shiftable shaft, and means for automaticall moving the levers in one direction to move the shiftable shaft to increase the distance between it and its companion to take up the slack in the drag when either the raised elevator or conveyer is lowered, the said shiftable shaft being free to be drawn towards its companion shaft by the drag as the elevator or conveyer is raised.

20. In a device of the class described, an elevator and conveyer pivotally connected, a shaft at the head of the elevator, a shaft at the free end of the conveyer and shiftable longitudinally thereof, a drag'carried on and driven by the shafts, a rock shaft, a lever carried at each end of the shaft, arms pivotally connecting the levers with the shaft, a rod pivoted to the elevator above and forward of the point of pivotal connection of the said elevator and conveyer, the opposite end of the rod having a yielding pull upon one of the levers of the rock-shaft, for moving the shiftable shaft in the manner, at the time, and for the purposes described, said shiftable shaft being free to move independent of the levers and the rod at the time setforth by the pull of the drag thereon.

21. In a device of the class described, an

elevator and conveyer consisting of two pivotally connected sections, drag carrying wheels at their extremities, a drag therefor, idler wheels fixed. in the region of the point of pivotal connection of the sectionsfor holding the drag in operative position, and means connected to the elevator section and yieldingly associated with the drag wheels of the conveyer for automatically keeping a substantially even tension upon the drag in any position of the sections relatively.

22. In a device of the class described, an elevator and conveyer comprising two pivotally connected sections, a drag for the same, wheels at the extremities of the elevator for carrying the drag, idlers substantially at the pivot point of the sections for holding the drag in operative position, one pair of the first described wheels being shiftable to relax or tighten the drag at the times set forth, and means in connection with the shiftable wheels of one section and the body of the other section for automatically shifting the shaft in one direction by a movement of one of the elevator sections in a given direction to take up the slack in the drag, the shaft being free to shift in the opposite direction by the pull of the drag when the elevator section is moved in an opposite Cli'. rection.

23. An elevator and conveyer consisting of two pivotally connected sections, a single drag extending through the entire elevator, drag-carrying-means at the extremes of the elevator, one of them capable of adjustment to vary the tension of the drag, a member extending from the region of such adjustable drag carrying means toward and having pivotal connection with the opposite elevator section beyond the point of pivotal connection of the sections, and a connection between the free end of the member and the said adjustable means the same adapted to increase the distance in a positive manner between the extremities of the drag when the member moves in a direction away from said adjustable means and adapted also for removing the pressure from the latter to per mit the drag to voluntarily decrease the distance between its extremities when the member moves in the opposite direction.

24. In a device of the class described, a conveyer having a fixed longitudinal guide thereon, and a chute pivoted thereto and longitudinally slidable therealong.

25. A grain receiving conveyer and its drag, means supported within said conveyer and receiving grain thereon, and adapted by its size to reduce the receiving area of such conveyer to prevent the latter being overloaded, the same being stationary within the conveyer but removable therefrom, and means at each side of the conveyer and ex tending above it and the said means for holding the grain upon the latter.

26. A conveyer, and its drag, and means supported inside the conveyer and having downwardly and inwardly sloping sides relatively fixed and providing an opening of fixed size therebetween of smaller size than the conveyer opening for passage of grain therethrough to such conveyer, said means adapted for removal from the conveyer, and means at each side of the conveyer and extending above it and the said means for receiving and holding grain upon the latter.

In testimony whereof I a'l'hx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. CAMP.

Witnesses:

E. J. ABERsoL, L. M. THURLOW. 

